Arnica: is it worth the money?

Arnica has its doubters, but it's been used as a remedy for everything from swelling to a hoarse voice for hundreds and years, and its popularity doesn't look set to wane.

It is widely used in Germany and France by medically qualified doctors, and it is also routinely administered in casualty units in hospitals.

Made from a yellow daisy-like flower, the active components of arnica include sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids which are known to reduce inflammation and ease pain. It also contains thymol, an essential oil that fights infection, and carotenoid, a powerful antioxidant.

It is believed to work by stimulating the activity of white blood cells and dispersing fluid that accumulates around damaged, swollen joints.

Cumulatively, its effect is to boost immunity, accelerate healing and fight inflammation. It also helps the body combat bacterial infection.

Roger Savage, senior homeopath at the Cambridge Complementary Health Practice, says the study was poorly designed and ran the risk of putting people off an effective treatment.

THIS study is very flawed,' he says. 'The principles of homeopathy are the reverse to orthodox medicine - the lower the dose, the more powerful the effect. The study used high doses which wouldn't be very effective and could cause side effects. And, for serious post-operative pain, homeopaths would design an individual treatment.'

Dr Peter Fisher, homeopathic physician to the Queen and clinical director of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital agrees. 'The researchers set up the study in the wrong way and misinterpreted their findings so we don't feel it proves anything,' says Dr Fisher, who is also a GP.

'Arnica has stood the test of time. Homeopaths have used it for more than 200 years to treat injuries, in particular swelling and bruising.'

Even Professor Ernst concedes the study does not necessarily discount arnica or the effectiveness of homeopathy. Laboratory tests, he says, have found that ultra-dilute homeopathic remedies do induce a response in immune cells.

He also admits that similar dilutions have significant effects on animals, which cannot 'will themselves better' to cause a placebo effect.

But this won't convince hundreds of British doctors who remain highly sceptical of homeopathy. Cynics such as Dr John Flemming, a GP based in North London, says the research proves that homeopathic remedies just don't work.

'They don't contain any active ingredient, so how can you expect them to work?' he says. 'In all likelihood, when people take arnica and feel better, it's because of the placebo effect, just as this research shows.'

• Homeopathic remedies are available in different potencies or dilutions.

The most common are 6C (diluted 600 times) used for long-standing ailments, and 30C (diluted 3,000 times) for emergency and acute symptoms.